What David Harsanyi and most political pundits miss completely is that we don’t have a capitalistic system in this country anymore. What we have is 1 percent of the population controlling 95 percent of the wealth. In political terms, that is referred to as an oligarchy.

Until such time as us Americans get sick and tired of “working for the man,” there won’t be any substantive change.

We are the power in this country. Just think what would happen to the incomes of those “too big to fail” corporations if all their workers decided to just take a week off, even if it cost them a week’s pay. Then watch what would happen to the power spectrum in this country.

All of the sparring back and forth about conservatism, liberalism, socialism, etc., etc., etc., means nothing until the greed of the 1 percent is recognized by Americans and we grow the spine to do something about it.

Until then, everything we talk about is just rhetoric.

John McElrath, Arvada

This letter was published in the Nov. 6 edition. For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here[2].

So what is Mr. McElrath's proposal? More socialism (bigger government and more regulation of our lives)??If so, how much more?The government already controls nearly 30% of private enterprise. And they want to take over 18% more with the health care legislation.Are we trying to pull everyone down to the same level of medicrity? Destroying all incentive to work hard, by taxing half of everything we produce??When examined more carefully, does the liberal philosophy make any sense?

#2 Comment By phornbein On November 5, 2009 @ 7:30 pm

Very excellent point!!! I would note, however, that we may actually have a plutocracy or, as a concession to Mr. McElrath, the combination of the plutocracy and the oligarchy called the plutarchy. But we certainly do NOT live in a capitalist system.

#3 Comment By Robtf777 On November 5, 2009 @ 8:48 pm

Actually……McElrath may have a point….but not quite as he would expect.Jesus Himself said that it would be “easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.”But….who are the rich and who are the poor???? McElrath lists his home as in Arvada….not exactly the ghettos of Tiajuana, Cairo, much of India, China, Ethiopia, Sudan, Africa in general, much of South America….but, you get the idea.Most homes in Arvada are what? 3 or 4 bedroom, 2 or 3 bathrooms, indoor plumbling, electricity, 2 newer cars, flat-screen TV, a computer or two, stereo system….doctors, dentists, hospitals nearby….well-equipped and clean schools….nice, clean, well-equipped churches and other places of worship where he can worship as he pleases (or NOT if so chooses)…supermarkets with so much food a lot of it ends up spoiling before it can be sold…and ends up in the dumpster…automotive stores, electronic stores, clothing stores….etc etc etc etc.The fact is…as a pastor I know reminds us….we, in the suburbs (and Arvada is no exception)….live a life that is so…pampered….with…conveniences and toys….that 95% of the kings, emperors, pharoahs…and everyone else in the history of the human race that has lived on this planet since the dawn of Creation….just might be jealous.And the fact is that, if most of the world today saw how the average Arvadian lived….they would be looking at McElrath's wealth and decrying HIS wealth.There are billions and billions of people on this planet who have less than McElrath — or any of us — has.There are hundreds of millions of people who would like to eat…what we throw away. There are millions of people who would love…the worn-out shoes we throw away. The fact is that we spend more money going to an amusement park or a ball game for one day…than…a whole lot of people have money to buy food with for a month.This is NOT intended to make anyone feel guilty….but to put things in perspective and make us…..acknowledge our “luck” and the “blessing” God bestowed upon us….to having been born in this country, in this time, and to be grateful for what we have…and to stop feeling sorry for ourselves because someone else is far, far richer than us….when billions of people are far poorer than us….in every sense of the word. And yes, there are some very, very rich people who are actually very poor…and some poor people who are actually very rich. It just depends on….where you keep your treasures: Here on earth…or…in heaven.

#4 Comment By CDoyle On November 6, 2009 @ 6:30 am

No..we don't need more classifications of various economic political organizations, but we do need a level playing field. Why was the Sherman Anti-trust act proposed? Go back in history at look at the economic cycles and what happened. Monopolies were able to use the economic power to gain and control commerce in their respective industry, lessening a competitive market. The current health industry is EXEMPT from being charged with monopolization so that their profits are secured and blocking competition. We do NOT live in a capitilistic society. Money is power and that money controls Congress to enact laws to keep the money and power with the ultra wealthy. I see many hard working people who have lost their jobs. The notion of equal opportunity and just work hard and one will succeed is smoke and mirrors…get off the hyperbole and actually look around you.

#5 Comment By phornbein On November 6, 2009 @ 7:32 am

Robtf777 makes some valid points–a tad off topic–but valid. What gives the CEO of United Health Care the right to earn $700million over 5 years? Because he can–but this doesn't make it right. Does this man, or anyone else in his income “bracket” have a conscience? How can one live in such opulent luxury when so many in this country are homeless, lack health care and can barely feed themselves? The answer is simple. Our pseudo-capitalist plutarchy breeds a “me” frame of mind, not a “we” frame of mind. It's great that Bill Gates has given multiple billions of dollars to worthwhile organizations, but the man still has billions more. Imagine if he lived like the “average” American and donated his remaining billions.

#6 Comment By tim1948 On November 6, 2009 @ 10:19 am

you miss the point completely. we don't have the country being run by the wealthiest, what we have is 300 million people being controlled and manipulated by 545 politicians.

#7 Comment By tim1948 On November 6, 2009 @ 10:21 am

you miss the point completely; it's not the wealthiest who control and manipulate us. it's the 545 politicians who control and manipulate the 300 million

#8 Comment By Eddie W On November 6, 2009 @ 10:46 am

As you can see by the comments, Mr. McElrath, they have a lot of people right where they want them. The lambs are clueless and being willfully led to their slaughter. Bu, yes, a reverse John Galt is due and coming soon nonetheless. Then the capitalists will find out who really creates the wealth in this country and that we are here to claim our fair share of it!Step one will be abolishing the Federal Reserve which has been the biggest theft of wealth in the history of the world.

#9 Comment By phornbein On November 6, 2009 @ 11:31 am

Another interesting historical note: At the inception of the notion of a corporation in the U.S., they were given a life span of 40 years. At the end of that period, they had to sell their assets and were disbanded.

#10 Comment By phornbein On November 6, 2009 @ 11:35 am

Perhaps if we were all at the same level of mediocrity, it would no longer be considered mediocre but would be come the norm. Imagine the same level of mediocrity where everyone has the same health care, everyone has enough to eat and everyone has shelter. You may be trying to rise above “mediocrity,” but there is someone else trying to rise up to mediocrity.

#11 Comment By mrfxx On November 6, 2009 @ 12:38 pm

And the 545 politicians are in the main at least swayed by if not outright “bought and paid for” by those wealthiest!

#12 Comment By CDoyle On November 7, 2009 @ 6:58 am

phornbein, look around you. When we have monopolies, we get high prices for pieces of mediocrity, and these monopolies block innovation and use their power to stave off new entrants.

#13 Comment By CDoyle On November 7, 2009 @ 1:58 pm

phornbein, look around you. When we have monopolies, we get high prices for pieces of mediocrity, and these monopolies block innovation and use their power to stave off new entrants.